Treating tobacco.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

EMIL A. SCHWEINITZ, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA; OF SAID DE SCHWEINITZ, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT TO JOHN C. PENNIE, OF

- or ONE-FOURTH oNE- A F'ro E. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO LINA, AcoEPoEATmN or N W JERSEY.

7 WASHINGTON, COMPANY, OF WINSTON SALEM, NORTHCARO- r. H. rains, EXEOUTOR AND MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, msrmor or COLUMBIA, AND

TREATING 'roganooo.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL A. DE zen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new 5 and useful Improvements-in I do hereby declarethe'following to be a full, clear, and .exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains .to make and use the same. 4 y

l The flavor of tobacco is largely due to the action thereon (during curing and manufacture .of the-tobacco) of the micro-organisms which have their habitat upon the leaves. ,These microorganisms differ in different grades or qualities of tobacco and according to their 1 5 particular character or organization act upon the leaves to impart distinct flavors thereto. The chemical action is obscure, but is supposed to be due to changes effected in the albuminoids, sugars, or other constituents of the tobacco, through the influence of the particular kind of micrd-organism present, The unpleasant flavor of some tobacco is attributable in large measure to the activity of its particular adherent micro-or-- T -ganism, as is also the agreeable flavor ofother tobacco to the activityof'their characteristic micro-organisms. The object of my invention is to alter the flavor of the tobacco treated and to improve its color, if it has been imperfectly cured. To this end, I first destroy the micro-organisms existingnpon thetobacco treated. i This may be done by subjecting the micro-organisms I to a temperature sufficient to kill them, as, for instance, a temperature of say 155 Fahr. to 160 Fahr. Preferably, however, I destroy the micro-organisms by exposing them to the effects of formaldehyde, preferably applied in the form of an atmosphere impregnated with from four to five per cent. of formaldehyde gas, andI employ this gas for the further reason that I have discovered thatwhe'n its action upon the leaves is continued for some time after the micro-organisms have been destroyed, such portions of the leaves as have remained A0 green after imperfect curing, are improved both in color and flavor, independent of the effect of the gas upon the micro-organisms. I desire therefore to be understood as intending to claim the u se of formaldehyde for improving the color and flavor of the tobacco, aside from its function of destroying the micro-organisms.

After the micro-organisms havebeen destroyed upon the tobacco, I proceed to colonize thereon the microorganisms found on the tobacco having the flavor desired. This be effected by mixing the tobacco, deprived of its living micro-organisms, with the tobacco having the'flavor desired and whereon the micro-organisms still exist, and permitting the mixed Specification of Letters Patent;

SCHWEINITZ, a citil Treating Tobacco; and

termed in the trade,"

Patented July 30, 1907.

1897. Serial No. 622,034.

grades in a moist condition to ferment until the microorganisms have effected the changes that produce the characteristic flavor desired. Or, if desired, an infusion, in water or licorice, may be made of the tobacco havingthe flavor desired, whereupon, previously deprived of its micro-organiclife, as described, maybe sprinkled with theinfusion and permitted to ferment as before; Or, further, cultures may be made of the micro-organisms characteristic of the tobacco having the flavordesired, and these cultures may be utilized to colonize the tobacco previously' deprived of its own micro-organic life, whereupon, subsequent fermentation, as in both of the other instances, brings about the desired change in flavor.

It will, of course, be understood that subsequent to the fermentation and its completed result, the leaves of tobacco are treated in theusual way according to the purpose for which they are ultimately intended, as, for instance, for cigar wrappers or fillers, long or short cut smoking tobacco, plug, or-the like.

In some instances, I may, after depriving the tobaccoto be treated of its micro-organic life, colonize thereon the micro-organisms of more than one of the other classes or grades. In all instances, the colonization effectual, I will, as before, subject the colonizedtobacco to conditions favorable to the action of the micro-organisms upon the leaf, as, for instance, by subjecting the colonized leaf to fermcnta- :tion until the desired result is effected. 7

treatment with formaldehyde,

In the preliminary the tobacco should preferably be in order as it is 'L. 6., in a sufficiently soft and moist condition to be handled without breaking. In fact, I may even employ the formaldehyde treatment while the tobacco is being cured.

The formaldehyde actachemically upon the albuminoids, the coloring matter, theamido-acids, the acid amids, the nicotin, the ammonia derivatives and probably the sugars, forming with them combinations which have altogether different flavors and propertiesreadily cognizable to those skilled art. These socalledcondensationproducts, which are easily formed and arecharacteristic of aldehydes, are very important. The change in coloris probably due to the reducing action of the formaldehyde.

The time'necessary'for the fermentation of tobacco when both good and bad ferments are present is longer than when the bad ferments are eliminated, for the stances formed, tend to retard the action of the useful germs, which must counteract these products, as well as form new ones. The. employment of formaldehyde to render the tobacco Y in the reason that the amines and other putrefactive subin my process not only entirely stops the activity of the bad fernients but. also converts the aforesaid substanccs'into condensation productsoffharmloss or agreeablecharact cr, and the tobacco is so iarimproved in quality that the useful germs can produce the desired products morereadily-and ei'iectivcly.

aving thus described my invention, what I claim which consists in destroying the micro-organic life thereon, colonizing upon the tobacco thus treated the micro-' organisms characteristic of another grade, and then subjet-ting the colonized tobacco to fermentation.

2. The process of treatment of tobacco. consisting in,

first, sterilizing the same, under such conditions and sufficiently long-continued asjo destroy the original bac 'v tcria' and sporesexisting therc0m then adding to the sterilized tobacco bacteria 61', cultures thereof to produce a new sand characterisviorflavor, and then subjecting the tobacco tofermehtatioir substantially as and for the pun 1. The method of developing a desired flavor in tobacco terla originally existing thereon and then adding in place thereof vbacte'ria'or culturesfthercof, to produce a new 25 and characteristic flavor, and also a material suitableior bacterial food, and then subjecting the tobacco io ferlnentation, siibstantially'as described.

4. The method of improving'the chlor and llavor or tobacco which consists in subjecting it ,io \theaction of formaldehyde until the desired change in color and flavor has taken place I 1 f The method of. improving-film color and flavor of tobacco which consists in. subjecting it to the action of an atmosphere charged with formaldehyde until the do sired change-in color and ilavorhas taken place.

6. 'Ihe.method of developing a desired flavor tobacco, which consists in 'destroying the micro-organic life thereon, by subjecting the tobacco to theaction of formaldehyde, colonizing" upon the tobacco .ganisms characteristic of another grade, and then siibjeciing tlie.colonized tobacco to fermentation.

' ln-testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence" oftwo witnesses.

EMIL A. DI] SCHWEINITZ.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. PnNNrn, V JOHN E hII'l'CXIELL.

thus treated the micro or- 40 

